Several floors of a brick building at night, with illuminated windows, decorative plants, and an old faded sign that reads 'Home & Grocery Salad Oil.'

71 Montrose Ave

HISTORY

Black and white photo of a four-story brick building with a sign for Montrose Smoked Fish on the ground floor, and a car parked on the street in front.

BAD BOY HISTORY

Nestled in Williamsburg, 71 Montrose Ave isn’t just another industrial building—it carries a rich and infamous past, deeply intertwined with Brooklyn’s Jewish history and the “bad boy” legacy of Montrose Smoked Fish. This building has seen it all—lawsuits, price-fixing scandals, front-page fires, and even a rat army that made headlines.

A Legacy of Controversy & Headlines

1935 – The Department of Agriculture filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming that the olive oil being sold was actually mostly cottonseed oil—an early brush with food fraud.

1944 – Montrose Smoked Fish, along with several other firms, was indicted for price-fixing, manipulating the smoked fish market during wartime.

1950 – A massive fire engulfed the building, landing on the front page of newspapers. The cause? Authorities blamed it on burglars, adding to the mystery and chaos surrounding the location.

1981 – The Daily News ran the now-infamous article, "Rat Army Has Them on the Run," chronicling an urban battle against an overwhelming infestation—another wild chapter in the building’s checkered past.

From the 1930s through the 1980s, 71 Montrose Ave was at the center of drama, scandal, and resilience, earning a place in Brooklyn’s industrial folklore. Today, this historic space has transformed into a versatile film location, but its walls still hold the echoes of its tumultuous past—a perfect backdrop for projects seeking an authentic, gritty, and storied atmosphere.

Want to shoot in a space with real history? This is the real deal.

  • Newspaper article with headline: 'Dealers at Probe Charge Racket To Fish Packer'. The article discusses a boycott of Manhattan and Bronx smoked fish dealers by the Manhattan and Bronx Smoked Fish Dealers Association of Oxenberg, related to food racketeering. Testimony includes statements from Sigmund Einstum and David Horne about receiving loans and trade issues. Additional details cover a hearing conducted by Assistant Attorney General William B. Groat Jr. regarding a Brooklyn fish jobber, Henry B. Suttenberg, accused of bribery and intimidation to prevent the boycott. The article mentions a witness, David Eisenfeld, who was fined for failing to remember details of his work and will attend another hearing on October 14.

    Unable to remember even his own handwriting...(while under oath in court)... and pay the fine of $100..." Fledgling Korchin and later Montrose Smoked Fish had to defend against bogus Trade Organization racketeering.

  • A website page about food in New York, featuring a banner with corn and noodles, and an article about Korbro Salad Oil with a photo of a building's facade showing a faded sign.

    In 1935 the department of agriculture made claim and initiated a lawsuit that the so-called olive oil was in fact cottonseed oil.

  • An old newspaper clipping from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle dated February 20, 1911, with the headline "Dyed Instead of Smoked Fish." The article discusses the discovery that stores in the city have been selling dyed fish as a substitute for smoked fish, which is illegal.

    There has been on and off claims of smoked fish being dyed because in the process of smoking fish you lose 15% of the weight. This speaks towards our time- food shrinkage.

  • A black and white photo of a multi-story brick building with a sign for Montrose Smoked Fish on the ground floor, and a parking garage entrance beneath the sign. There is a car parked on the street in front of the building.

    Circa 1930's

  • Four-story brick building with a garage on the ground floor, parked vans inside, and illuminated potted plants on the second floor. Graffiti art and faded white letters are on the brick facade.

    Montrose Smoked Fish current

  • Front page of the Brooklyn Eagle newspaper from April 16, 1944, containing headlines about war bonds, military actions in Europe and the Pacific, and local news, with a black and white photograph of a person.

    In 1944, they were indicted with many other smoked fish firms for price-fixing.

  • Black and white newspaper article titled "Food Men Drop Plan to Mark Ike Reception", discussing food industry protests against a political event in the city.

    1945 Montrose Smoked Fish officers, convicted a second time going to Jail

  • Black and white newspaper front page with headlines including 'ALLIES HURLED BACK' and 'Seize Deported Boro Dope Smuggler'; main headline about World War II, and other articles on crimes and international issues.

    In September 1950, a major fire occurred, again making the front page of the newspapers. The article is alleging that it was somehow started by "Burglars". Not that it happened in this instance, but it was an old school Brooklyn practice whereby you gave the Fire Chief and various City inspectors giant platters of smoke fish towards building a convenient ongoing relationship. Of course they would sign off that the fire was started by "Burglars". Everybody is happy and the insurance papers filed are pretty straightforward. The suggestion is not to attend criminality or create a fishy story but more to give the flavor how matters were done in Brooklyn.

  • Legal court document titled Final Judgment from the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, involving a case about fish smokers trade council and related defendants, dated September 28, 1955.

    1955 Southern District of NY legal Doc. "Final Judgement" This is separate from the prior charges & Newspaper articles

  • Newspaper article titled "Rat army has them on run" with text describing a rat infestation problem caused by large rats and a recent increase in the rat population in a neighborhood, mentioning measures taken and inspectors involved.

    Daily News 1981, at the time the predominant neighborhood was Hispanic and many of them were complaining of being overrun by rats coming from the Montrose Smoked Fish...

  • Tall building at night with a fire on the second floor and sprinklers spraying water from the third floor, with some plants outside.

    Montrose Smoked Fish Current with permanent plantings on the facade

  • Classified ads page from Brooklyn Eagle newspaper, December 1, 1962, featuring job listings, real estate ads, and a crossword puzzle.

    1962 Help Wanted Section red circled Montrose ad for a bookkeeper. See following enlargement see story

  • collage of vintage job advertisements from 1962, including help wanted ads for female bookkeeper, male or female sales roles, technical positions with IBM, boys' interview work, and jobs for men with no experience, highlighting employment opportunities and gender roles of the era.

    What is hard to depict is how the women's job section is 1/4 of the available men's jobs. Note the IBM ad "For qualified men..."

  • A collage featuring historical Brooklyn buildings, vintage newspapers, chainmail gloves, and a fashion model dressed in shiny metallic clothing with a matching handbag, emphasizing Brooklyn history and industrial craftsmanship.

    Found hiding in the former factory is a Stainless Steel mesh Glove

Montrose Fish Factory

circa 1980

Old red fire truck parked on a city street in front of a brick and concrete building with old signage and graffiti on a metal roll-up door.

Today, 71 Montrose Ave has transformed into a dynamic production studio, honoring the building’s rich and rebellious legacy.

Once home to Montrose Smoked Fish and a hub of controversy, it now serves as a creative space where history meets storytelling. With its authentic industrial aesthetic, vintage props, and curated film sets, we embrace the spirit of its past while providing a one-of-a-kind backdrop for filmmakers, photographers, and visionaries.

This isn’t just a studio—it’s a piece of Brooklyn history, ready for its next chapter.

  • Empty garage or workshop with a stage area at the back, illuminated with warm and cool colored lights, containing chairs, tables, and various tools and equipment.

    Loading Dock

    Double-truck entrance with a loading dock garage and stainless steel freight elevator with LED lighting on a retractable pulley system for customizable setups, and a curb cut opening directly onto a city park view.

    View
  • Bright room filled with potted plants on shelves and windows, wooden table with plants, bookshelves, and spiral staircase.

    Vintage Library

    The 300 sq. ft. soundproof room, suitable for interviews and audio recordings, has 10 ft. tin ceilings, south-facing windows with natural light and park views, and second-layer windows for improved acoustics.

    View
  • A rooftop garden table decorated with flowers, oranges, and two glasses of orange-colored drink. Surrounded by various potted plants and greenery with city buildings in the background.

    Rooftop Gardens

    Over 2,500 sq. ft., including a main garden of and upper levels, we have stunning vistas overlooking the city, all are accessible via freight elevator.

    View
  • A person on an industrial staircase, holding a tablet, with a blue lighting ambiance, behind a sign that reads 'Wet Paint'.

    Stairwell & Elevator

    The distressed stairwell, 1940s stainless steel freight elevator, and industrial fire escape provide three unique filming locations within the space.

    View
Home